Australia will head into their upcoming series against Pakistan with potential retirements looming large, as some of the senior players within the Test squad nearing the end of their careers.
David Warner has publicly expressed his desire to bow out after the final game of the series, which will be held at his home ground in Sydney, while the likes of Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon have refused to put a timeline on their future.
Warner's long-time friend and opening partner Usman Khawaja has also remained optimistic of continuing his international career, despite the left-hander being about to celebrate his 37th birthday.
But with a golden age of Baggy Green stars nearing a conclusion, there is set to be a major changing of the guard and it leaves Andrew McDonald and the selection panel with plenty to think about.
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Australian coach Andrew McDonald addresses potential retirements
In an interview with SEN Radio, the head coach opened up on the possibility of losing four key players in the next few years, as well as the ageing fast-bowling duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
“There’s an element of conversation but the other thing too is you never put a deadline on players," McDonald said.
“No doubt they’ll be having the conversations with their network and they’re sort of having the conversations with us as well, but I’m a big believer that you don’t know when the end date is.
"Sometimes players, when they get to 36 or 37, start to hit the peak of their powers and we’ve seen with other players in other nations as well.
“So to put an end date on a player I think is a bit scary and there’s no doubt that when the end comes, I think the player knows when it is the end."
The three-game series against Pakistan will begin on December 14th, with an Australia A fixture slated for next week and set to feature a number of hopefuls for the Test squad.
And while McDonald is always keeping one eye on the future, selection for the five Tests this summer against both Pakistan and West Indies will be selected in isolation and based on merit.
“That will all be decided later this week,” he said.
“Like any other decision, it’s working out who is the best player for that position at that point in time and I think with Test cricket, it’s really clear... you don’t necessarily need to future proof things too much.
"We see every Test match as important in terms of the direction of Australian cricket. I think they’re isolated series... I think every Test match you sit down as a selection panel and you work out your best team and go from there.
"There’s no doubt you will have a younger player from time to time that people will think needs to play or get exposure to play, but I think a lot of that always takes care of itself.
"I think that’s the way Test cricket should be, pick your best team at that point in time."